06:14 21-10-2025

Mercedes brings an AI Boston Dynamics robot dog to factory patrols, finding leaks and reading gauges

Mercedes has a new kind of “colleague” at its Düsseldorf plant: a four-legged Boston Dynamics robot named Aris. Instead of just roaming the shop floor, it patrols production areas, tracks down compressed-air leaks, analyzes noises, and reads analog gauges. By the company’s estimate, the robo-dog could save hundreds of thousands of euros a year and lighten the load on staff by shifting routine checks away from people toward work with more added value. The choice feels pragmatic: trim the mundane, keep humans on tasks where judgment matters.

Aris comes equipped with AI and sensors, navigates the site on its own, climbs stairs, and goes where it’s inconvenient or unsafe for humans. It’s a natural extension of Mercedes’ automation drive: elsewhere in the group, autonomous logistics drones and Apptronik humanoid robots are already in testing. In the company’s view, deploying such systems points to the auto industry’s next chapter and anchors a broader push to make manufacturing more efficient. The use cases hit everyday pain points, and the projected savings suggest the rollout won’t be a mere pilot for long.